2016 – As announced a week earlier, Alex Rodriguez plays his final game for the Yankees today, going 1 for 4 with a 1st-inning RBI double off Chris Archer of the Rays in a 6 – 3 Yankees win. The Yankees indulge him by letting him play at his old position, third base, in the 9th; he then leaves the game under the crowd’s applause after one out, ending his career only 4 homers short of 700, but done as a player at 41.

Rockies rookie outfielder David Dahl singles to right field off Rangers starter Lucas Harrell, giving him a hit in 17 straight games to start his big league career. The 22 year-old freshman’s streak, in which he is batting .365 (23-of-63), equals the mark established by Reds third baseman Chuck Aleno, who also hit in his first major league 17 games in May of 1941.

2016 – Rangers slugger Prince Fielder formally announces that his career is over at 32, the result of having undergone a second spinal fusion surgery a few weeks earlier, making him medically unable to perform although he has four years remaining on his contract. He is the third prominent home run hitter to announce his retirement in a week, following Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez.

2016 – Eight days after having been acquired by the Athletics at the trading deadline, Jharel Cotton makes a bid to throw only the fourth perfect game in Pacific Coast League history. After striking out Kyle Kubitza for out number 26, he gives up a triple to Doug Bernier with two outs in the 9th to spoil his attempt. He then strikes out the next batter to complete a one-hit shutout as Nashville defeats Round Rock, 3 – 0.

2016 – Brandon Crawford of the Giants becomes the first player in 41 years to collect 7 hits in a game, as he gets a triple, a double and five singles in a 14-inning, 8 – 7 win over the Marlins. His final hit, a single off Andrew Cashner in the 14th, drives home the winning run. The last player with 7 hits in a game, Rennie Stennett, had accomplished the feat in only 9 innings on September 16, 1975.

Manny Machado has a chance to make history as he bangs three homers in the first three innings of Baltimore’s 10 – 6 win over the White Sox, but he makes outs in his last three at-bats and has to settle for a 3-for-6 performance.

At a press conference, Alex Rodriguez announces that he will play his final game on August 12th and then retire with a year and half still left on his huge contract. A-Rod has been benched for the past month or so as his skills have badly eroded, and unless he goes on an unlikely power spree in his final week, will fall just short of 700 home runs, although he is still fourth on the all-time list. His announcement comes two days after teammate Mark Teixeira stated that he would retire at the end of the season.

At a crowded news conference, Yankee 3B/DH Alex Rodriguez announces he will play his final major league game against the Rays in the Bronx on August 12 before becoming a special adviser and instructor with the team. The 41 year-old A-Rod, currently hitting .204, will end his career with 696 home runs, fourth on the all-time list, trailing only Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755), and Babe Ruth (714). “Of course I think I can play baseball. You always think you have one more hit in you. That wasn’t in the cards. That was the Yankees’ decision and I’m at peace with it.” – ALEX RODRIGUEZ, announcing his retirement.